Toparis Dominates In Supersport’s Race 1 At ASBK Phillip Island

Tom Toparis (Landbridge Yamaha YZF-R6) was the first rider to stamp his authority on the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK)’s Supersport class with a commanding win in the year’s first Supersport race for Round 1 here at Phillip Island Circuit, as part of the FIM World Superbike Championship weekend (February 22-24). 

He claimed the top step of the podium ahead of fellow Yamaha riders Nic Liminton (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6) and Callum Spriggs (Allsite Concrete Cutting Yamaha YZF-R6).

Toparis began the race on pole position ahead of Liminton, with Spriggs completing the front row. A delayed start saw race distance reduced to nine laps, but once the race got underway it was Toparis with the holeshot as Spriggs moved into second. Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) was the big winner from the race start, sliding into third in his debut race in the Supersport category as Liminton dropped to fifth. At the end of lap 1 it was Toparis from Bayliss and Liminton, who had recovered to pinch third off Spriggs.

By lap two Toparis was already almost a second and a half ahead of Bayliss, Spriggs, and Liminton who made up the three-man battle for second spot.

Ty Lynch (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6) managed to tack his way onto the leading group by quarter distance, having worked his way up from ninth on the grid.

With four laps to go Liminton, having passed Spriggs earlier, managed to find his way past Oli Bayliss for second. The battle for third raged on through the race between Spriggs, Broc Pearson (Yamaha YZF-R6), and Lynch.

Spriggs would go on to claim the last spot on the podium in a nail-biting finish, with Bayliss only 3 thousandths of a second back in fourth and Pearson overtaking Lynch on the last lap to finish fifth.

In the end though nobody could touch Toparis, finishing more than five seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Toparis was happy with his performance this morning, quietly confident of his chances for the remaining races.

“I’m glad to start the season off with a win” he said, “and hopefully it’s going to be a good weekend.”

Liminton was delighted with his second place, an excellent finish despite an injury.

“I tore my shoulder yesterday and it’s been a big pain on the bike so I’m happy to even be in the top 3. I couldn’t be happier.”

Third-placed Callum Spriggs was full of praise for his opponents, especially Supersport debutant Oli Bayliss.

“It was fun battling with Oli and Nic, I think Oli’s going to be a good young rider” he said.

“I think it’s going to be a fun weekend racing against each other so I’m looking forward to it.”

Toparis will be looking to replicate this morning’s performance in Race 2, scheduled to go green at 5:45pm this evening (February 23).

Overall Classification:
1 Tom TOPARIS (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6)
2 Nicholas LIMINTON (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6)
3 Callum SPRIGGS (Allsite Concrete Cutting Yamaha YZF-R6)
4 Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6)
5 Broc PEARSON (Yamaha YZF-R6)
6 Ty LYNCH (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6)
7 Aidan HAYES (Hayes Johnston Pty. Ltd. Yamaha YZF-R6)
8 Jack PASSFIELD (Stay Upright Rider Training, Yamaha YZF-R6)
9 Sam LAMBERT (Mv Agusta Paramatta, MV Agusta F3)
10 Reid BATTYE (Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R)

The first round of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship continues until Sunday (February 24) at Phillip Island, as part of the FIM World Superbike Championship weekend. For information and tickets, head to www.asbk.com.au.
To keep up with all the action from the weekend, follow the ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.

Images courtesy of Andrew Gosling – tbg sport